Corrections spokesman Mark Vernarelli says the first assault occurred about 5 p.m. Friday when an officer was struck in the face by an inmate heading to dinner at the western Maryland prison.

Vernarelli says several inmates assaulted other officers a short time later. One officer suffered facial injuries, another hurt a knee and other officers were taken to the hospital to be treated for exposure to pepper spray.

Vernarelli says searches conducted after the assaults did not find any weapons.